Casey Alan Coyle

Areas of Emphasis

Casey Alan Coyle is the Managing Shareholder of Babst Calland’s Harrisburg Office and past Co-Chair of the firm’s Appellate and Litigation Practice groups.  He concentrates his practice on complex commercial litigation and appellate law.

Mr. Coyle has significant first-chair trial experience and regularly represents businesses in high-stakes or bet-the-company litigation in state and federal trial courts throughout the country.  He has worked on a variety of cases, including cases involving breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duties, civil conspiracy, constitutional challenges, emergency injunctions, environmental litigation, non-competition/non-solicitation agreements, shareholder litigation, and theft of trade secrets.  He also represents clients in matters brought before the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court as part of its original jurisdiction.

Beyond his extensive trial work, Mr. Coyle frequently represents businesses and trade associations in state and federal appellate courts.  Over his career, he has represented either a party or an amicus curiae in over 15 appeals before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.  Mr. Coyle has successfully petitioned the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to grant review of an appeal—commonly known as “allocatur”—on six different occasions.  In addition, he has presented oral argument before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court, and Pennsylvania Superior Court.  Mr. Coyle frequently serves as a commentator for The Legal Intelligencer and Law360 on appeals pending before the Pennsylvania appellate courts.

Representative Experience
  • Representing a publicly traded electric vehicle manufacturer against another publicly traded electric vehicle manufacturer in a tortious interference case in Arizona federal district court involving more than $25 million in damages. Lion Electric Company v. Nikola Corporation, 2:23-CV-00372 (D. Ariz.) (pending).
  • Representing a Fortune 500 company in CERCLA and RCRA litigation in Wisconsin federal district court in which the plaintiff sought nearly $30 million in past and future response costs and declaratory relief. After a two-week bench trial, the court awarded the plaintiff $0 in past response costs, reduced the plaintiff’s requested allocation of future response costs to the company by more than 40%, and dismissed the plaintiff’s RCRA claim.  Case is currently pending before the district court on post-trial motions.  Barclay Lofts LLC, et al. v. PPG Industries, et al., 2:20-CV-01694 (D. Wis.) (pending).
  • Represented a group of casinos at trial before the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court as part of its original jurisdiction and on an appeal before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in a case involving the legality of the Pennsylvania Lottery’s iLottery program. Greenwood Gaming & Entertainment, Inc., et al. v. Department of Revenue, 306 A.3d 319 (Pa. 2023).
  • Representing the Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America, Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, and other trade associations as amicus curiae in an appeal before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court concerning the constitutionality of the statutory damage caps established in Section 8528 of the Pennsylvania Sovereign Immunity Act. Freilich v. SEPTA, No. 10 EAP 2024 (Pa.) (pending).  Amicus brief featured in the article, “Chamber Tells Justices To Keep Gov’t Suit Damages Cap,” Law360 (Aug. 5, 2024).
  • Representing a former C-suite executive in a civil conspiracy case before the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court as part of its original jurisdiction brought by the Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner in his capacity as Statutory Rehabilitator of Senior Health Insurance Company of Pennsylvania (SHIP); the Commissioner is seeking over $500 million in damages. Humphreys v. Wegner, et al., No. 1 SHP 2020 (Pa. Commw. Ct.) (pending).
  • Representing a global oil and gas company in a pre-enforcement challenge to $1.4 million impact fee under the Pennsylvania Oil and Gas Act (Act 13). Case is currently pending on appeal before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.  Repsol Oil & Gas USA v. Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, No. 62 MAP 2024 (Pa.) (pending).
  • Representing the Pennsylvania Coalition for Civil Justice Reform, Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and other trade associations and business as amicus curiae in an appeal before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court concerning the standard of proof required to establish forum non conveniens for a case involving an in-state plaintiff. Tranter v. Z & Tour, Inc., Nos. 18 EAP 2024 to 32 EAP 2024 (Pa.) (pending).  Amicus brief quoted in article, “Industry Groups Back Appeal of Ruling They Claim ‘Would Effectively Abolish Venue’ in Pa.,” The Legal Intelligencer (June 17, 2024).
  • Represented a trade association in Pennsylvania federal court in a case involving a constitutional challenge to the City of Pittsburgh’s inclusionary zoning ordinance. Builders Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh v. City of Pittsburgh, et al., 2:22-CV-00706 (W.D. Pa.) (pending).  Complaint featured in the article, “Builders Sue To Stop Pittsburgh’s ‘Inclusionary Zoning’ Rule,” Law360 (May 12, 2022).
  • Represented a school district in an appeal before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court involving media access to student records. Central Dauphin School District v. Hawkins, et al., 286 A.3d 726 (Pa. 2022).  Successfully petitioned the Supreme Court to grant review of the appeal and presented oral argument to the Court.
  • Represented the Scranton Diocese as amicus curiae in an appeal before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court involving the statute of limitations for civil sexual abuse claims. Rice v. Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, 255 A.3d 237 (Pa. 2021).  As part of the appeal, provided substantial assistance to the appellants, including assisting them with successfully petitioning the Supreme Court to grant review of the appeal.  Also quoted in the AP article, “Slew of church abuse lawsuits hinges on state court decision” (Aug. 14, 2020).
  • Represented the putative debtor in an involuntary bankruptcy before the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. In re Deluxe Building Solutions, LLC, No. 5:21-BK-00534.  As part of the representation, participated in nine non-consecutive days of evidentiary hearings on the putative debtor’s motion to dismiss.
  • Represented a publicly traded company in an appeal of a multi-million-dollar verdict before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The Bert Company v. Turk, et al., 298 A.3d 44 (Pa. 2023).  Appeal involved, among other issues, the calculation of the constitutionally permissible ratio of compensatory-to-punitive damages in multidefendant cases.  Successfully petitioned the Supreme Court to grant review of the appeal.
  • Represented a 50-50 owner of a limited liability company in a shareholder dispute before the Centre County Court of Common Pleas and Tioga County Court of Common Pleas. Shaner, et al. v. Hendrick, et al., 2013-4525 (Centre Cnty. Ct. Com. Pl.); Hendrick, et al. v. Shaner, et al., No. 974-CV-2013 (Tioga Cnty. Ct. Com. Pl.).  These companion cases involved the allegation that the other owner breached his fiduciary duties to the company, resulting in over $38 million in damages.
  • Represented a small water utility in an appeal before the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court concerning an acquisition by a capable public utility under Section 529 of the Public Utility Code. Twin Lakes Utilities, Inc. v. Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, 281 A.3d 384 (Pa. 2022).  As part of that appeal, successfully obtained a stay of the Commission’s underlying Order—which is the equivalent of a permanent injunction—pending the outcome of the appeal.

Background

Prior to joining Babst Calland, Mr. Coyle was a partner at a national law firm with offices throughout the eastern United States.  While there, he served as Chair of the firm’s Appellate Practice Working Group.  Before entering private practice, he served as a law clerk for the Honorable Thomas G. Saylor, Chief Justice Emeritus of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, for nearly two and a half years.

Mr. Coyle graduated from the Temple University Beasley School of Law, where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Temple Journal of Science, Technology & Environmental Law.  He earned his B.A. in Journalism, with distinction, from the Pennsylvania State University.  During his time at Penn State, Mr. Coyle was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society and spent a semester in Washington, D.C., interning for CNN’s Capital Gang.

Memberships and Affiliations

Mr. Coyle is licensed to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.  He is also admitted before the United States Courts of Appeals for the Third and Sixth Circuits, and the United States District Courts for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, District of New Jersey, and Eastern District of Wisconsin.

Mr. Coyle is the Chair of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania’s Civil Procedural Rules Committee, which assists the Supreme Court in the preparation, revision, publication, and administration of the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure.  In 2024, he was selected by The Legal Intelligencer as one of only 13 “2024 Lawyers on the Fast Track, Small/Midsize Winners” statewide in Pennsylvania.  This recognition is only given to attorneys under the age of 40 who have demonstrated excellence in four categories: development of the law; advocacy and community contributions; service to the bar; and peer and public recognition.  In 2023, Mr. Coyle was invited to become a Fellow of the Foundation of the Federal Bar Association, an honor bestowed upon less than 300 lawyers nationwide that demonstrate commitment to and leadership within the FBA and the legal community.

Mr. Coyle is a past President of the Middle District of Pennsylvania Chapter of the FBA, currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Chapter’s CLE Committee and served on the Planning Committee for the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania’s 2024 Bench/Bar Conference.  He is a past member of the Third Circuit Lawyers Advisory Committee.  He also previously served as the Vice President of the Capital Area Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association, Vice President of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association, and as the Sponsorship Chair for the Liberty Ball, an annual event held in Philadelphia to benefit the Four Diamonds Fund.

Mr. Coyle has been selected to the Pennsylvania Rising Stars list (Thomson Reuters) for Business Litigation for ten consecutive years (2015-2024).

Publications/Presentations
  • Co-Author, “The ‘Roundup’ Round-Up: Will a Recent Third Circuit Ruling Spell the End for Roundup Products Liability Litigation in Pa. State Courts?,” The Legal Intelligencer, December 5, 2024.
  • Panelist, “Appalachia Appeal: Pennsylvania and West Virginia Appellate Roundup,” Babst Calland Client CLE Day, October 16, 2024.
  • Co-Author, “Stare Decisis: U.S. Supreme Court’s Willingness to Overturn Longstanding Precedent and its Potential Effect on State Appellate Courts,” The Legal Intelligencer, August 15, 2024.
  • Panelist, “Best Practices for Managing Root Cause Investigations,” Energy Mineral Law Foundation’s 45th Annual Institute, June 11, 2024.
  • Panelist, “Befriending the Court: A Primer on Amicus Curiae Practice Before Pennsylvania Appellate Courts,” Allegheny County Bar Association, May 7, 2024.
  • Co-Author, “Blurred Lines: The Ongoing Battle Between iLottery and iGaming,” The Legal Intelligencer, April 29, 2024.
  • Panelist, “Appellate Review 2023-2024,” Pennsylvania Coalition for Civil Justice Reform, April 25, 2024.
  • Co-Author, “Forum Non Conveniens – Pennsylvania’s Jurisdiction Jigsaw Puzzle,” The Legal Intelligencer, January 27, 2024.
  • Co-Author, “To Infinity and Beyond? Pennsylvania Supreme Court Casts Doubt Upon Presumptive Constitutional Limit for Punitive Damages,” The Legal Intelligencer, November 3, 2023.
  • Panelist, “Transformation of Pennsylvania Civil law 2016-2013,” Pennsylvania Coalition for Civil Justice Reform, September 11, 2023.
  • Co-Author, “It’s Groundhog Day for Pennsylvania’s Fair Share Act,” The Legal Intelligencer, May 25, 2023.
  • Panelist, “Top Ten Pennsylvania Appellate Cases,” Allegheny County Bar Association, April 27, 2023.
  • Co-Author, “Questions Abound Following Right-to-Know Law Decision Involving Student Records,” The Legal Intelligencer, April 20, 2023.
  • Panelist, “Roundup of Recent and Pending Appellate Decisions in Pennsylvania,” Pennsylvania Coalition for Civil Justice Reform, April 18, 2023.
  • Co-Presenter, “Characteristics of a Successful Program/Programming Best Practices,” Federal Bar Association Leadership Summit, Washington, DC, March 24, 2023.
  • Panelist, “Appealing Entertainment: Pennsylvania and West Virginia Appellate Courts Round-Up,” Babst Calland Seminar, February 28, 2023.
  • Panelist, “The New Public Access Regime for Education Records (and Why Life as a School Solicitor Got a Whole Lot Harder),” Allegheny County Bar Association, School and Municipal Law Section, February 16, 2023.
  • Co-Author, “We Don’t Talk About Bruno (But We Should): Why Uncertainty Still Persists Regarding the ‘Gist of the Action’ Doctrine in Pennsylvania,” The Legal Intelligencer, February 2, 2023.
  • Panelist, “Appellate Update,” Washington County Winter Bench Bar Conference, January 20, 2023.
  • Panelist, “Appellate Practice in Pennsylvania,” OGC University 2022, October 20, 2022.
  • Panelist, “E-Discovery: Navigating Obligations and Disputes in the Middle District of Pennsylvania,” Middle District of Pennsylvania Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, March 24, 2022.
  • Co-Presenter, “Appealing Entertainment: Pennsylvania Appellate Courts Round-Up 2021,” Virtual CLE, December 7, 2021.
  • Author, “Checklist: Metadata Fields to Consider,” Bloomberg Law, June 18, 2021.
  • Author, “Guide to Understanding, Using, & Analyzing Metadata in Litigation,” Bloomberg Law, June 4, 2021.
  • Co-Author, “Time-Barred Claims of Sex Abuse in Pa.—Litigation and Legislative Developments,” The Legal Intelligencer, March 12, 2021.
  • Co-Author, “Consumer Protection Law Ruling Could Spell Big Trouble for Pennsylvania Businesses,” The Legal Intelligencer, March 4, 2021.
  • Panelist, “Proportionality: One Year Later, A Review of the Practical Implications of the Amendments to the Discovery Rules,” Middle District of Pennsylvania Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, November 2016.
  • Co-Author, “Federal DTSA: New Weapon in the Battle to Protect Trade Secrets,” The Legal Intelligencer, May 27, 2016.
  • Co-Author, “Court Limits Ability to Allege FCA Violations Over Post-Employment Conduct,” The Legal Intelligencer, June 29, 2015.
  • Author, “Pa. High Court Tort Ruling Is Relief To Local Gov’t,” Law360.com, November 24, 2014.
  • Co-Author, “Products Liability Practitioners Anxiously Await Tincher Ruling,” The Legal Intelligencer, November 3, 2014.
  • Co-Author, “CWA Ruling Could Be National Victory For Municipalities,” The Legal Intelligencer, September 30, 2013.
  • Co-Presenter, “What You Will Not Learn from the Rules of Appellate Procedure,” Lancaster County and York County Bar Associations, March and April 2013.
  • Co-Author, Stopping an Invisible Epidemic: Legal Issues in the Provision of Naloxone to Prevent Opioid Overdose, 1 Drexel L. Rev. 273, (Spring/Summer 2009).
  • Author, Gonzales v. Carhart: Justice Kennedy at the Intersection of Life Interests, Medical Practice and Government Regulations, 27 Temp. J. Sci. Tech. & Envtl. L. 291, (Fall 2008).